Many thanks to freefall8, Elemarth and herc009 for your reviews. Many thanks to anyone who also put me on their alerts or favourites list. Chapter 2 is now up. Enjoy!

CHAPTER 2

Introductions

Okay, this Jedi Knight is mad. Slowly Maia began edging away from the laughing man. She had no desire to spend anymore time in the company of this…madman.

She started shuffling away from him when he reached out and grabbed the sleeve of her tunic. He had stopped laughing and gave her an apologising look. "Don't run away," he implored. "I didn't mean to scare you, little-," he broke of, remembering how she had disliked being called 'little one'. "Sorry."

"It's okay," Maia said not wanting him think her cowardly.

"Don't worry," said the Knight kindly and Maia could see a twinkle of merriment shinning in his blue eyes. "I'm not mad," he said as if he had read her thoughts. "I was just laughing because you reminded me very much of myself. I too used to explore the Temple at night when I was an Initiate."

Maia regarded him, intrigued. No Jedi she knew, whether it was one of her teachers or one of the Healers who had attended to her or any other Jedi she had ever met in her short life had ever mentioned anything to her about their past. In fact they hardly ever talked to her except to ask her questions concerning the lesson or telling her to do so, so and so.

"Why did you do that?" she asked, her curiosity aroused.

A corner of his mouth curled up in a wry smile. "I couldn't sleep."

Maia grinned. Most of the Jedi she had met -which were not very many- were like much of the galaxy believed they were like; old, stuffy beings who lived strict spiritual lives, never having a moment of fun or anything of the like. Perhaps only Jedi Masters or the teachers were like that. However, this Jedi certainly looked like someone who would wander around the Temple at the dead of night as an Initiate without regarding the curfew.

Like her.

And whether I can sleep or not, I really have to get back, she realised. As though he had read her thoughts –again, (Maia raised her mental shields higher) the Knight said, "I think it's time for you to get back to bed."

Maia nodded. "I'll take you back," he said and before Maia could protest he went back into the training room. He emerged a moment later, fully dressed with a towel slung around his neck.

"Come." He beckoned her with his hand and started down the corridor. Maia noticed that he was going walking in the wrong direction. The Initiates' quarters were in the opposite direction.

"Ah, Sir!" she called out tentatively. "The Initiates' quarters are that way." She pointed down the hallway from where she had come from.

A looked of realisation appeared on the Knight's face. "Oh, yeah." He spun around, the sudden action sending his long hair slapping against his face. He looked slightly embarrassed as he said quietly, "I forgot."

They walked down the darkened corridors in silence for a while. At first Maia had struggled to keep up with the Jedi Knight's long strides, but he noticed that she fell behind and so shortened his strides so that she could fall into step comfortably beside him.

As they walked on, the Jedi reached into a utility pouch at his belt and drew out a hair-tie. He then proceeded to pull his dark brown hair back into a ponytail. He glanced at his young companion, noticing that she was watching him intently.

A thought niggled at the back of his mind, something related to his momentary young charge. Realisation suddenly dawned upon him. I don't even know her name! He watched the girl walk silently at his side. Whenever they passed a light, it glinted on her flaming red hair making it look as though her head was on fire. He suppressed a sudden urge to chuckle at the thought.

"I don't think I have introduced myself yet." He stopped, she followed suit and he held out a hand to her. "Jeran Vàner." She shook it gravely. "Maralaia Vestarii. It is an honour to met you, Knight Vàner." On an afterthought she added, "Call me Maia. Everyone does, Sir."

"You dislike the name Maralaia?"

She shrugged scowling. "It sounds weird. Besides, it's very long and hard to remember for some, Sir."

Jeran scowled. "Don't call me that, Maia. You can call me Jeran."

Maia looked at him in surprise. "You don't like being called 'Sir'?" she found this strange. Most Jedi preferred to be called by their ranks by the Initiates. None of her teachers had ever asked to be called by name.

Jeran must have read her surprise on her face for he grinned at her and said, "Just like some don't like to be called 'Little One'."

She returned the grin shyly. A moment later they found themselves in the corridor leading to the quarters.

"I'm sure you can find your way back to your room on your own, hmm?" Maia nodded. "Yah. Don't worry."

"I'm not worrying. Just get back to bed, okay Maia?"

The Initiate nodded again. Jeran tousled her hair. "That's my girl. Goodnight."

"Goodnight Jeran."

The Jedi Knight watched the girl walk down the corridor. Only when she disappeared through the door did he turn and head back to his own abode.

I hope that was alright. Reviews are always appreciated. May the Force be with you. -Xrai

BTW, Jeran's name is pronounced juh-rAAn('juh' sounds like 'fur') vAA-nAEr(nAEr ryhmes with 'air')